Guest- Michael Falco, and a giveaway!

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Jessie: In Northern New England where the weather is swaying back and forth between hot and chilly!


I am so pleased to welcome guest Michael Falco, author of The Bria Bartolucci Mystery series!
Michael is giving away two copies of MURDER IN AN ITALIAN CAFE to two readers
who leave a comment on the blog.  Here’s a bit about MURDER IN AN ITALIAN CAFÉ, the second book in a new mystery series.

MURDER, ITALIAN STYLE

Ciao bellas!  Welcome to the idyllic coastal village of Positano nestled in Italy’s alluring Amalfi Coast.  Here, everything is beautiful.  The food, the people, the landscape, even the murder.  

Meet your sleuth.  Bria Bartolucci is a 33-year-old widow raising her nine-year-old son, Marco, on her own after her husband, Carlo, was killed in a plane crash.  Devastated by the loss, but determined to fulfill their dream of opening up a Bed and Breakfast in Positano, Bria forges ahead and quicker than you can say, “Mamma mia!” Bria has turned Bella Bella into one of the hottest B and B’s in the village.  

Having already solved a string of murders, Bria’s gained a reputation as an Italian Miss Marple.  So when Chef Lugo – a visiting culinary celebrity – dies right next to her while they’re filming the pilot of his new television show, Bria immediately suspects foul play.  At first no one believes her, but quickly they all change their minds.  Especially Luca Vivaldi, the chief of police.  And Bria’s love interest.

As they work closely together to solve the murder, Bria and Luca can’t deny their growing romantic attraction.  It doesn’t hurt that he’s got smoldering Neapolitan features and she looks like she stepped out of a 1960s Fellini film.  Or that his play-it-by-the-rulebook approach constantly clashes with her follow-my-gut instinct.  They may not realize it, but Bria and Luca make the perfect pair.  

While their romance blossoms, there’s a murder to solve.  Bria enlists the help of Rosalie, her best friend and Luca’s younger sister, to dig into Lugo’s past to find out if he had any enemies who’d want him dead.  What they uncover is a tangled web of lies, deceit, and cover-ups that shock the village and bring to light long-buried secrets.  

MURDER IN AN ITALIAN CAFÉ boasts a colorful cast of characters from the commanding Imperia Bartolucci, Bria’s ice-cold mother-in-law and Annamaria Antonelli, the village gossip, to Valentina Travanti, the sexy new tour guide and Massimo Angelini, the mysterious television producer.  Some are locals, some are visitors, all are suspects.  And Bria won’t rest until she finds out who killed the man who she witnessed take his last breath on earth.  

This is murder, Italian style.  Filled with passion and romance, food and laughter, family and friends.  So come join Bria and spend some time in Positano to relax and savor the international flair of this picture-perfect village.  But do be careful and remember that just because it’s paradise, doesn’t mean it isn’t deadly.  

Readers:  Be the first person to tell me Bria’s full name and you can win a signed copy of MURDER IN AN ITALIAN CAFÉ.  I’ll also randomly pick one name from all those who leave a comment or ask me a question and choose another winner. 

Grazie!  And arrivederci!

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Published by Jessie Crockett

Jessie Crockett wears a lot of hats, both literally and literarily. As Jessie Crockett she is the Daphne Award winning author of Live Free or Die and the nationally bestselling Sugar Grove series. As Jessica Ellicott she has received starred reivews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal for her historical mystery Murder in an English Village. As Jessica Estevao she writes the Agatha Award nominated Change of Fortune Mysteries. She loves the beach, fountain pens, Mini Coopers and throwing parties. She lives in northern New England where she obsessively knits wool socks and enthusiastically speaks Portuguese with a shocking disregard for the rules of grammar.

43 Thoughts

    1. Hi Adrienne! Nope, Bria is Bria’s full first name. I’m actually looking for her full name – first name, middle name, confirmation name AND maiden name – the whole enchilada – or maybe that would be the whole lasagna?? 😉

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    1. I’m embarrassed to say that even though I’m Italian (Sicilian to be exact!) I never went to Italy until I wrote the first book! I know, it’s a travesty! I’ve only been to the Amalfi Coast and Rome so I can’t wait to explore more of the country. But Positano is just breathtaking

      and yes, that’s Bria’s name – but i’m looking for her middle name, confirmation name AND her maiden name!

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  3. Brian Bartolucci and don’t I love that name! Italy is my dream location and the coast sounds like the perfect place for a good story. In that photo, that tunnel looks pretty wild going right through the houses!

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    1. Thank you!!! I love her name too. I found by googling “pretty Italian names for girls” and Bria was one of the names that popped up. And I made up the last name because I wanted the repetitive B sound in her first and last names.

      The tunnel and the entire landscape of Positano is a marvel. I have no idea how people built tunnels, roads, and houses into the side of an incredibly huge and steep mountain!!! If you haven’t visited yet, you absolutely must!

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  4. Bria Bartolucci is her name although I’m sure I’m not the first to respond due to extremely slow internet service today.

    Would LOVE the opportunity to read and review MURDER IN AN ITALIAN CAFÉ! Thank you so much for the chance to win a copy.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  5. Her name is Brian Bartolucci, but due to extremely slow internet and having to submit numerous times for it to go through, I doubt I’m the first person to answer.

    I would LOVE the opportunity to read and review MURDER IN AN ITALIAN CAFÉ! Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. thanks LIz!! I remember when I went into the bathroom in the cafe and saw the floor tile. I literally stopped in my tracks and said “this is the most beautiful tile I’ve ever seen – and it’s in a bathroom!!!”

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  7. I’m thinking her name is Brian Bartolucci? Wow, those photos are gorgeous!! Love Italy and hope to visit one day.

    Thanks for the chance!

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    1. Thanks B! I hope you can make a trip to Italy. I’m 50% Italian (Sicilian to be exact!) and I never really had the desire to visit though I have no idea why. When I started writing the books I realized Positano was unlike anything that I’ve ever seen so I booked myself a trip! It was one of the best things I’ve ever done. Positano and the entire Amalfi Coast are just breathtaking. Like most other countries, it can be pricey, but if you book ahead and do some research you can find a bargain. I stayed at Hotel Positano, which is sort of in the middle of the price range AND the locale. If you stay close to the beach, it’s expensive, but you don’t want to stay too high up because you have to keep walking up and down the stairs or the street. But they have taxes and buses too so it’s very easy to get around. Just make sure you bring VERY comfortable shoes. Like Bria’s espadrilles!

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    1. Hi Kait – I’m so glad you love Positano! Honestly, I don’t know anyone who’s been there who doesn’t love it. It’s a magical place and I can’t wait to go back. I hope you enjoy the book – I will say that it’s filled with lots of food! and despite the murders, Bria does have a lot of fun hahaha!!

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  10. Well, Positano just vaulted to the top of my must visit list! These photos are beautiful. Bria and the book sound like tons of fun.

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    1. Yay!!! So glad I could lure you in hahaha!! Positano and the entire Amalfi Coast are breathtaking. Just magical. You can stay in one town and take the ferry to all the others. And trust me, there’s nothing like boarding a ferry at 9am with the sun shining on the crystal blue waters knowing that you’re going to spend the day roaming around one of the most beautiful cities on the planet.

      And the ferry ride home at sunset is even more magical!

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    1. Thank you so much Edith!! Your support has always meant so much to me.

      No matter what kind of traveler you are, you’ll love Positano and the entire Amalfi Coast because it truly has something for everyone. Amazing food, hiking, boating, shopping, nightclubs, more shopping 😉 day excursions. I cannot wait to go back!

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    1. Hey JC!! Thanks so much! And you should just book a trip! I did it spontaneously when I was researching for the book. I realized Positano was like no place I had ever been before. I was in between jobs at the time so what do you do when you’re unemployed? You book a two week trip to Italy! hahaha!! best thing I ever did.

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  14. Ciao, signore Falco! I am not the first to post the complete name of our bellissima Protagonist, but it is Bria Nicoletta Faustina D’Abruzzo Bartolucci. (SHE is definitely noy BRIAN 🙂 ). I love Italy, my ancestor’s homeland, and am all packed up to travel to Positano. I have enoyed days in Positano, but need to revisit it. I send a lot of my special clients to Italy (I am a travel agent), and it seems that Italy is becoming more and more a popular travel destination, as it should!!! Thank you for making me aware of your mysteries, which I have not yet read, but correcting that shortly. Mille grazie!!! Luis at ole dot travel

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    1. Ciao Luis! You know that we Italians are very generous so I’ll make an exception and crown you our third winner!!

      How interesting that you’re a travel agent – what a great job! I’ve only been to Italy once I’m sad to say, but I was able to visit most of the Amalfi Coast, spend a lot of time in Positano, and traveled up to Pompeii (which was mindblowing!) and Rome, which I fell in love with too! I can’t wait to go back, but I may need to ask you for tips! Of course I’m Sicilian so that’s practically a trip in itself!

      I think I should send you a bunch of copies for your clients. It can be part of their travel package when they book a trip!

      Michael

      And I ignored that typo! I knew B didn’t mean Brian 😉

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      1. Ciao Michael! Thai it so generous of you…you made my day!!! If you send me an email to: Luis at ole dot travel, I would be honored to be able to give you some suggestions…and Sicily is almost its own country 🙂 Thank you, thank you thank you! or Un milione di grazie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  15. So many others have already mentioned Bria’s full name, I’ll just say this 33 year old widow sounds like she would be an interesting sleuth. I wonder if her young son will play an important part in helping her. You are a “new to me” author, which is always pleasant to find.

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    1. Hi Muriel! Welcome to Positano!! I do find her to be an interesting sleuth because she’s a bit of a reluctant one and she is compelled to solve the crime at first for a bit of a selfish reason – to preserve the name of the Bed and Breakfast – but it quickly evolves into an emotional one. She truly cares for these victims and wants to find out who killed them and why. Like most Italian stories, the series has become very emotional and also very family-oriented.

      Marco plays a VERY important role in the series especially in book three, which I recently finished. I let my mind wander a bit to see where it would lead me and I will say that I was quite surprised where Marco took me. I think readers will really enjoy and be very invested in watching Marco grow up and how his relationship with Bria develops.

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  16. Sounds wonderful and I love alliterating names -Bria Bartolucci- it rolls of the tongue. Italy, food, romance…and murder!

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    1. Thanks Suzette! But talk about a name rolling off the tongue – Suzette Ciancio – that’s right out of a novel! I may steal it someday if I want to introduce Bria’s cousin from her mother’s French side – your name would be perfect!!

      And you’ve condensed the plot of the books in five words – Italy, food, romance….and murder!! I may steal that too!!! hahaha!!!

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  17. Bria Nicoletta Faustina D’Abruzzo Bartolucci is her full name. I’ve read “Murder In An Italian Village” and enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to reading the new book in the series. I also met Michael Falco at a Kensington event and he was very nice and very friendly and enjoyed meeting the readers.

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    1. Hi Dianne!!!

      Thank you so much for the kind words!! I remember you too – Dianne with the two ‘n’s!

      I’m so glad you enjoyed the first book. I think you’ll like the second one even more. I think it has a more emotionally rewarding outcome because of the victim’s backstory and how it’s enmeshed with the lives of the people already in Positano. And of course Bria’s love life blossoms and everyone loves that!!

      Michael

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    1. Thanks Patti! With a name like Borgognoni you must know firsthand that Italy is a beautiful place!!! I hope you enjoy Bria and all her (mis)adventures!!

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  19. I’ve never been to Italy and unlikely to ever be able to, now, but oh, how I would love to visit via Bria! I’m excited to learn of a new to me author.

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    1. Hi Ginny! You can travel to Italy vicariously through Bria’s adventures!!! I have been told by many people that the vivid descriptions in the book make you feel like you’re actually in Positano. So you get to travel without the jet lag!!

      And I’m glad I’m no longer going to be new to you! Enjoy the books!

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    1. Hi Judith! You are correct as well!!! And since it’s late and I’m in a good mood from so many fabulous comments and so many CORRECT answers, I’m going to add you to the mix of winners!

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    1. And you won’t have to worry about your flight being canceled!! Books always come to the rescue.

      Grab yourself an Aperol Spritz – you can even make a frozen Aperol Spritz – or the mocktail version which is just as good! – put your fee up and enjoy Bria’s adventure!

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  22. I am captivating and entranced with this Italian locale and the intriguing mystery. The photos are superb and the food delectable. I never did get to the Amalfi coast. When I am in Italy which is rare it weaves a spell.

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  23. Murder in an Italian Cafe would be a treasure. The setting, story and characters are unique and memorable. Impressive backdrop. Italy is an unforgettable experience.

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